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Virginia BCIA Update
Livestock Update, November 2004
Scott P. Greiner, Ph.D., Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech
BCIA Culpeper Senior Bulls Sell December 13th
The 47th annual sale of the Virginia BCIA Culpeper Senior bulls will be held Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 12:00 noon at the Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises located on Route 29 just south of Culpeper.
The sale will include 80 fall-born yearling bulls representing the top sixty percent of the 135 bulls on test. Selling will be 75 Angus, 2 Braunvieh, 2 Gelbvieh, 1 Hereford, and 1 Simmental bull. Only bulls which meet stringent BCIA criteria will sell. The majority of the bulls selling are sired by trait-leading, highly proven AI bulls of each breed. All bulls selling meet minimum genetic requirements (EPDs) to sire calves for the VQA Purple Tag Feeder Calf Program. Bulls have been screened for reproductive and structural soundness, and offered as guaranteed breeders. Complete performance information will be available on all bulls, including: growth, maternal, and carcass EPDs, detailed test performance information, and ultrasound data.
Beef producers and others who are interested are invited to visit Glenmary Farm to view the bulls. Glenmary Farm is located at Rapidan, VA and operated by Tom and Kim Nixon.
For catalogs and detailed information on the bulls visit the website http://bcia.apsc.vt.edu, or phone VA BCIA at 540-231-9163 or Glenmary Farm at 540-672-7396.
Southwest Virginia Bull Test Initiates 26th Season The Virginia BCIA Southwest Bull Test recently started its 26th season of bull development. The bulls are being developed at Hillwinds Farm, owned and operated by Tim and Cathy Sutphin of Dublin, Virginia. Eighty-eight fall-born Senior bulls (57 Angus, 14 Charolais, 3 Gelbvieh, 1 Limousin, 13 Simmental) and 113 Junior spring-born bulls (74 Angus, 16 Charolais, 7 Gelbvieh, 16 Simmental) were delivered to the Southwest Bull Test Station on October 5, 2004. Bulls were allocated to four pens based on age and weight. After a two-week adjustment period, bulls will be weighed on test. Weights and performance will be measured according to the following schedule:
| Senior (112-day test) | Junior (133-day test) | |
|---|---|---|
| On Test | Oct. 18 & 19 | Oct. 18 & 19 |
| 56-day Weight | Dec. 14 | Dec. 14 |
| 84-day Weight | Jan. 11 | Jan. 11 |
| 112-day Weight | --- | Feb. 8 |
| Off Test | Feb. 7 & 8 | Feb. 28 & March 1 |
At the completion of each test, bulls will be evaluated for reproductive and structural soundness. Ultrasonic evaluation of carcass traits will be conducted during the test. Eligible bulls will be sold on March 26, 2005.
For information on the Southwest Bull Test, including test reports and directions to the station, visit the website http://bcia.apsc.vt.edu or phone VA BCIA at 540/231-9163.